Fort Liefkenshoek is one of the oldest forts in Flanders. The military building from the late 16th century was built to protect the city and port of Antwerp against the advancing Spanish troops led by Farnese. Together with Fort Lillo – on the other side of the Scheldt – it was of great importance for control over shipping: together they could close off the Scheldt. Over the years, Spaniards, Dutch, French and Austrians besieged both fortresses that were part of the State-Spanish Lines, a military defense network from the Eighty Years' War up to the French era.
